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Pro Tip #1 | Selecting the Ideal Off-Road Vehicle for Arizona’s Rugged Terrain
Exploring Arizona’s backroads requires a suitable 4×4 vehicle, with selection based on the intended adventures, and taking into account type, features like 4WD and ground clearance, size, reliability, durability, and budget. Trucks, SUVs, and ATVs are options, with popular choices like the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner offering a balance of performance and comfort. Aftermarket…
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Optimizing Mud Terrain Tire Pressure: Your Ultimate Chalk Test Tutorial
Off-road enthusiasts can optimize mud terrain tire performance by using the chalk test to fine-tune tire pressure for varying conditions. This guide explains assessing optimal inflation with clear visual cues from chalk wear patterns. It involves marking the tires, adjusting pressure, and driving to check for even wear, requiring potentially several adjustments to achieve the…
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Diagnosing a Restricted Exhaust System in a 1990 Jeep Cherokee 4WD
This guide outlines steps to diagnose a restricted exhaust system in a 1990 Jeep Truck Cherokee 4WD. It advises checking for ignition or fuel issues, conducting a visual inspection, and using a vacuum gauge and tachometer to test vacuum pressure at idle and 2000 rpm. Low readings suggest potential blockages, warranting further investigation to locate…
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Mastering Drivetrain Dynamics: Pinion Angle Alignment & Suspension Adjustments
Pinion angle is vital to drivetrain geometry, ensuring smooth power transfer and component durability in 4WD vehicles. Suspension lifts alter pinion angles, causing vibrations and requiring correction through adjustable control arms, traction bars, shims, or spacers for optimal performance. An ideal angle aligns closely with the driveshaft, while caster angle adjustments may be necessary for…
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U.S. Forest Service proposes sweeping changes to enforce state laws on federal lands.
The US Forest Service has proposed a new rule to enhance its law enforcement on National Forest System lands by enforcing state laws, raising constitutional concerns. Critics argue it oversteps federal authority, infringes on state sovereignty, and creates potential conflicts with state law enforcement, given that the Tenth Amendment reserves such powers for states. The…
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ACTION ALERT | TMP Dictates use of 1,271 miles of roads near Yuma, AZ
The Bureau of Land Management Yuma Field Office is seeking feedback on a proposed 1,271-mile road network affecting 1.4 million acres near Yuma, Arizona. Implications for land use and access to recreational areas near military ranges and wildlife refuges are significant. Under NEPA, environmental impacts will be assessed, with a public comment period open from…
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ACTION ALERT | Gila San Simon TMP will close 494 miles of roads near Safford, AZ
The Bureau of Land Management has proposed a Travel Management Plan that will affect motorized access to nearly 1 million acres of public lands near Gila, Arizona. The proposed travel network contains 2,389 miles of roads with 494 miles designated as closed under the preferred alternative C.
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This map Visualizing Road closures on public land will shock you
We have compiled an interactive map illustrating road closures through travel management planning on Bureau of Land Management land and National Forest land in Arizona. Although this map is incomplete and does not include travel management plans completed between 1997 and 2014 on Bureau of Land Management land, it showcases federal agencies’ extensive efforts to…
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State Governance of Roads on Public Lands: The Intersection of RS 2477 and the 10th Amendment
The governance of roads on public lands in the United States is a complex interplay of historical legal statutes and the distribution of powers between federal and state entities. At the heart of this issue lies Revised Statute 2477 (RS 2477), a law that granted rights of way for the construction of highways across public…